NEWARK - Six students received a total of $11,000 toward their college educations Tuesday afternoon as part of the recently created "Believe in Newark" scholarship program.

The awards, funded by the Believe in Newark Foundation and Verizon Foundation, were given to students headed for both two and four-year colleges.

The largest amount went to East Side High School graduate William Rodriguez Jr., who received $6,000 through the Amiri Baraka Visual & Performing Arts Scholarship.

The award was named after Baraka's late father, the influential poet, author and activist Amiri Baraka.

"I don't know anybody that believed in Newark more than he did," the mayor said.

The other five recipients, Aliyyah Torres, Mahogany Laveau, Kristin Towkaniuk, Jessiah Paula and Shakira McKnight were all members of the Newark Youth Council.

McKnight, 21, had been studying at Essex County College, and will use the money to fund her transfer to Cleveland State University in Ohio, where she is pursuing a degree in physical therapy.

She said she was grateful to have her contributions with the council, which included running youth summits and town hall meetings geared at steering city students toward college, both recognized and reciprocated.

"It was beautiful to go through and learn with young people that are just like myself, that want to give back to the community, she said. "And now they've given back, so that I can further myself and come back to give back to the community again."